The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) reminds residents to use extreme caution near all watercourses, which are running high. Streambanks are slippery and the water is cold and moving quickly.

The Upper Thames River watershed has received 30 – 50 mm of rain over the past week, with much of that falling within the last 48 hours. The past month has been unusually wet, with approximately 100 – 150 mm of rain, compared to a normal of closer to 80 mm.

“Peaks from the recent rain developed early today in upstream areas and on smaller creeks, and downstream areas will peak during the day today,” said Mark Helsten, UTRCA Senior Water Resources Engineer. “We expect water levels to be approximately 0.5 to 1 metre above normal for this time of year, depending on location.”

An additional 45 – 75 mm of rain is forecast to fall on Thursday and Friday of this week which, on already saturated ground, will elevate water levels further.

The UTRCA’s flood control reservoirs at Fanshawe, Wildwood and Pittock Conservation Areas are at seasonal levels, and are being operated to reduce downstream flows.

UTRCA officials are monitoring the situation, and will report on any changing conditions if necessary.

The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority is one of 36 Conservation Authorities in the Province of Ontario, Canada. Our area of jurisdiction, the upper watershed of the Thames River, covers 3,432 square kilometres in southwestern Ontario and is home to approximately 485,000 people. The Thames is a Canadian Heritage River.